Anytime I've been in treatment I've been encouraged to exercise. I'm not keen on exercise but I've always had a physical job and I figure that takes care of it. Exercise can be lots of things from walks on the beach to aquatic exercises in a pool. Do what works for you!

thanks!

Exercise, if you can manage to make yourself do it, is good for you in several ways.

Besides the obvious, it also gets you moving and if you get some aerobic (heart-pumping) exercise going, it even releases endorphins that help you feel better.

But if you get out in the sun at least 15"/day, it also helps your body make serotinin, a neurotransmitter related to mood regulation.

And if you exercise more than 40" before bedtime, it also helps you sleep better.

It does help me a great deal. The hardest part is finding the motivation, you just have to do it. Keep at it, and I guarantee it will work.

thanks guys!

It helps my mood a *lot* but I hate it and I have to force myself to do it.

NOt only do I feel better, but in 3 mos, I went from a size 12 at 25% bodayfat down to a lean and rock solid 6 at 10% bodyfat. Weight training, cardio martial arts and strict diet ( ick!)

excercise makes me tired then i sleep and have happy dreams, it also makes my body ache then i feel like lying around so it never has helped much with depression but it has helped when i'm manic and make time for it it helps me focus

it definitely helps with depression. gives you energy. start slowly and build up. I just walk a lot & occasionally go to the gym. It can be very meditative as well. Plus when you look better, you feel better; hokey but true.

i love to do yoga, as it is exercise without exercising, and it helps get the happy chemicals in your brain pumping. the hard part is when i feel like shit and know that the exercise would help, but have difficulty forcing myself to do it.

I watched a thing on Oprah yesterday with that Dr. friend of hers about turning back aging and decided to start walking today. Here I am at the computer. Thanks for the reminder. I am going for a walk right now!

The most difficult part was having the 'motivation' to start.Once that came then it's getting the balance, without being too self-critical.Just fifteen minutes at first was a slog.Now I do an hour each morning.

I think it can help you get out of depressive funks quicker..\
I gotta say though I was sooooo fit when I had last breakdown..loads of yoga, hell-runs, biking all over my city instead of driving. Perhaps it did help me have quite a long stable period prior to this though.

I do Tai Chi...it's not heavy exercise but it does get my heart rate up and I work up a 'glisten'. It also helps with my concentration. Exercise is the last thinkg on my mind when I'm depressed, though. Good Luck!
peace, t

I have to say that it's very scary to be a man in a gym, with a depressed mind and being surrounded by these pumped up thugs that are feeling each other's 'pecs'.Constantly.
Then one says he can train me to be like 'them'.
*shiver*